Digital Star unauthorized charge

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Complaint

0
Steve
Country: United States
A preauthorization for $74.95 from Digital Star with a bad phone number (208-123-7377) showed up on my debit card account 1/29/12.  Called bank fraud department and had the account killed immediately.  They stopped the charge since it had not completed.  Do not know who Digital Star is or what the charge was for.  I use the card for online purchases mainly through Amazon.  No purchases in the last 30 dqays.  However, I placed orders in the last 60 days from a company called Turncraft (woodworking plans), Personal Creations, and Entirely Pets. I wonder what companies others have used recently.

Comments

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  • 0
    tj
    So far, Google search on:
     Jan 2012 74.95 fraud charge

    is not picking up similar complaints on other sites, only complaints on this site.
  • 0
    Steve
    | 1 reply
    I am the one at the top of this thread.  There are two other threads on this site with these complaints.  Of the people that have listed their use of the cards two said they did not use Amazon.  A lot have not indicated. One on this thread and one on another.  If that is true, then Amazon's database is not the source. On the other thread the person said his card was new and was only used once at a restaurant.  If that is true it makes you wonder if they have hacked into a banks data stream somewhere.  I have reported this to Amazon, Zappos, IC3, and EFT Investigation Unit of the Secret Service in San Francisco.
    • 0
      Joe replies to Steve
      Well, I'm one of those people who have never bought anything on Amazon, so add me to that list!
  • 0
    tj
    Very good analysis, well focussed on the diagnosticity of each item of evidence.

    https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-st ... ysis/art11.html
  • 0
    Steve
    | 1 reply
    Just received a written report back from Amazon who has assured me that my financial information in their database was not accessed or compromised.  While talking to them I asked to speak with a manager and was told they were all on the phones due to the number of calls they were receiving about this problem.
    • 0
      tj replies to Steve
      That may also be why there are no further reports of "pings" through Amazon.

      Amazon may have blocked them, or flagged some traffic based on geography or IP address.
  • 0
    Dave
    Minutes ago I discovered thatI got the same exact charge on 1-29-12 from Digital Star.  Have yet to contact my CU about it since they are closed for the day.  South Dakota here.  I am also an Amazon.com customer but am not sure if there's a connection.
  • 0
    Jon
    I got the same transaction (74.95 from Digital Star along with the Int. Tr. Fee). I called the bank to cancel my card and filed a dispute. We use amazon frequently so I will also check other card(s) linked with my amazon account.
    I'm glad I found this message thread: it helped me identify the scam quickly.
  • 0
    tj
    There are reports of repeated fraudulent charges.

    You should call the number on the back of your card to block the card number.  Dispute the charge as fraudulent, and request and send in a fraud affidavit.
  • 0
    Greg
    Had same thing on my Wells Fargo acct. The last time I used that card was at Michaels craft store here in Vancouver, Wa. Filed fraud charges as soon as I saw it.
  • 0
    Bill
    Honestly, if this had been hacked from a company, they have to report the hack or data breach promptly or there are serious legal consequences.  Typically, when this happens a card company will cancel your card immediately.  In this case, I'd be more suspect of a virus on computers that is capturing key strokes or you or a member of your family got phished by clicking a link that looked like a company you have done biz with in the past.  Just my thoughts.
  • 0
    tj
    I'm leaning that way also, but just because a company should do something, doesn't mean it does.  The legal requirement also varies across jurisdictions.

    There is no way we can know yet even if they have reported, since sometimes LE wants them to keep it quiet while they investigate, even though that might result in additional consumer fraud losses if consumers miss the charge and do not dispute it in time.

    Also, reports of bank responses are varying all the way from already blocking the card, to immediately cancelling and refunding when called, to waiting for the charge to go through before "investigating" and maybe refunding.  It doesn't appear any word has gone out to banks, or else some fraud departments are asleep.

    Defunct "UK" company points to seizing an opportunity that was expected to occur, while "Gibralter" as a source for one reported charge suggests scheme was set up for laundering the trail.  A lot of fraudulent money goes through legal jurisdictions in the Mediteranean on its way to wherever.
  • 0
    Brad
    Same thing happened to me in AZ. on the 31st of Jan 2012.
    I have an Amazon account, but then who doesn't.
    Does everybody above have an Amazon account?
  • 0
    Noemi
    I had this just happen to the company bank account(it cleared today, for the amount of $498.99).  Just filed fraud charges with the Bank(Capital One). Knew it had to be fraud by the phone number(British) and the amount.

    The thing is, the business does not really use the debit card, the only time in the last three months was to purchase something on Amazon. I wonder if there is the connection there.
  • 0
    jchasse
    Looking like an Amazon connection
    Posted on another thread earlier that wife and I both had our company cards charged.

    ONLY place both cards are listed outside of BofA is Amazon.com :(
  • 0
    Dave
    Same thing happened to my debit card.  Same charges.  $74.95 from digital star and a $.60 cross-border fee.  Card changed.  Atlanta, GA
  • 0
    Cliff
    I just saw this on my USAA acct. Charged against my debit card on 1/29 for 75.70. I have not bought from amazon in ages. Most likly a virus that got past the virus protection? I checked all my other cards for the same type of charge.
  • 0
    Jules
    Same thing just happened to my account accept it was for the
    $498.99. Went to my bank immediately and they were terrific. Small banking is truly the best.

    Had to cancel all of the debit cards on that account.

    Thank you to everyone who has been posting. It was truly helpful..knowing that i have not gone crazy!
  • 0
    tj
    Amounts ($74.95, $498.99, rather than small less noticeable charges) suggest this is the channel they are grabbing money through, rather than using an orphan merchant account for "pinging".

    No reports of different later fraudulent charges is consistent with this.
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